February 28, 2005

Antoinette Iadarola
President
Cabrini College
610 King of Prussia Road
Radnor, PA 19807

Dear Dr. Iadarola,

It truly saddens me to be writing this letter, but having watched the events of John Dzik’s dismissal from his role as head coach of Cabrini’s men’s basketball team has left me with no choice but to speak up.

I am a 1998 graduate of Cabrini and, during my four years at the school, I had the privilege of working for Coach Dzik as one of his basketball managers. Shortly after graduating, I often jokingly referred to my time with the basketball program as a four-year internship, but that is exactly what the experience turned out to be. I might not have been an athlete on the court, but getting the chance to work for Coach Dzik and see him in action everyday gave me more “real life” experience than a more traditional internship could have ever provided me. While working under Coach Dzik, I learned the values of living up to responsibility, taking a job seriously, taking pride in working as part of a unit, and putting out my best effort everyday – all values Cabrini claims to preach as part of their core education values. These are all lessons I still call on today in my career and I know I can thank Coach Dzik for helping to prepare me to succeed in the “real world.”

I know I am not the only person who has similar stories to tell from their time at Cabrini. Anyone who walked through the doors of the tiny athletics department offices in the “old” gym was touched by this man. Coach Dzik quite simply is Cabrini athletics. He not only represents the men’s basketball program, but he is the heart and soul of the entire athletic program and has been throughout his 25 years of service to the school. I think the outpouring of support his firing has brought forth shows just what he means to so many people. It is a shame that future students will not get the opportunity to get to know him and learn from him in the same way.

I am also greatly concerned by the rather weak excuses given for his firing. How can a man who helped organize a benefit for a former employee and alum who was suffering from a terminal illness just over a year ago not represent the values of Cabrini College? How can a man who has accomplished so much, both in accolades and awards and in the number of lives he has touched, over the course of the last 25 years not be the perfect person to oversee the development of the next quarter century of Cabrini athletics? I fail to see one legitimate reason for Couch Dzik being let go from his position. He has done nothing over the course of his career but represent Cabrini College with honor.

It is not too late. I urge you to rethink this horrible decision and let Coach Dzik continue to do what he does best – represent the school and all it stands for. Until that day comes, I am sorry to say I am ashamed to be associated with Cabrini College.

Sincerely,

Phyllis Cohen

Class of 1998